Cindy is the owner of Dolman & Taylor specialist curtain and blind makers. She has over 15 years of experience, curtain making, blind making, working with fabrics and making soft furnishings. In the videos she clearly explains and demonstrates the methods and techniques used in her workroom .
PLAIN, STRIPED and PATTERNED FABRIC are treated differently at this stage Select your fabric type. If you are making a wider blind that will require joining widths of fabric, also read the EXTRA instructions at the end of this STEP.
PLAIN FABRIC - CUT & MARK THE SIDETURNS
Cut the plain fabric to the FABRIC CUT WIDTH (Finished Blind width + 10cm)
Check the 2 sides are cut straight and parallel
On the right side mark a 5cm side turn down each side in vanishing pen.
Cut the TOP of the fabric straight and at a true right angle (6cm trimming allowance in Fabric QTY for this)
Check the fabric is at least the length of the FABRIC CUT DROP (Finished Blind Length + 16cm). The panel will be trimmed it to the correct length later in the process when making the header.
Decide where you want the stripes to be placed on the blind.
Cut the Striped fabric to the FABRIC CUT WIDTH (Finished Blind width + 10cm), making sure the stripes are in the correct position on the panel.
Check the 2 sides are cut straight and parallel
On the right side mark a 5cm side turn down each side in vanishing pen.
Cut the TOP of the fabric straight and at a true right angle (6cm trimming allowance in Fabric QTY for this)
Check the fabric is at least the length of the FABRIC CUT DROP (Finished Blind Length + 16cm). The panel will be trimmed it to the correct length later in the process when making the header.
Work out where you want the pattern to be on the finished blind.
PRO TIP: The position of the pattern is more important at the top of the blind than the bottom.
Cut the fabric panel to the FABRIC CUT WIDTH (finished blind width + 10cm) so the pattern will be in the correct position horizontally on the blind.
Keep the pattern central and in the correct postion by removing fabric from each side.
Check the 2 sides are cut straight and parallel
On the right side mark a 5cm side turn down each side in vanishing pen.
Decide on the pattern where you want the TOP of the blind to be and draw a straight line in this position across the blind at right angles to the sides. Make sure there is at least 7cm of fabric above this line (heading allowance). Check there is at least (blind length +9cm) of fabric below the line.
You have a pattern repeat to achieve the cut in the right place at the top of the panel.
Note You have more than 7cm above "TOP of blind line" this is normal with a patterned fabric, you trim it off later when you form the heading in STEP 8.
Mark down from the top of the panel 7cm which will be the position of the bottom of the velcro.
Draw a line in vanishing pen to mark the bottom of the velcro. Note this line marks the top of the blind - you will have marked this already if you have cut patterned fabric and may have more than 7cm of fabric above the line (you will trim it later when making the header).
Cut a length of velcro slightly longer than the width of the blind.
Open out the side turns. Machine stitch the velcro onto the fabric in line with the line of vanishing pen and above it. (Stitch the bottom, top and sides of the velcro - do not stitch onto the side turns)
Fold the velcro over at the top and pin in place. This fold is the top of the blind.
Trim away any excess velcro from the sides of the blind.
Turn the fabric over and press the top fold.
Remove the side turn pins
Measure down from the top and mark in vanishing pen the finished blind length and the 9cm hem allowance across the width of the blind.
Also mark 4cm up from the bottom of the hem allowance to mark the first fold in the hem.
You will have 3 marks, one marking the bottom of the blind, one marking the bottom of the hem (where we cut the panel) and one 4cm up from the bottom of the hem.
Draw 3 lines across the width joining up the marks.
If you are using 2cm velcro rather than 5cm velcro stitch the vecro on as in the instructions above. You will have 5cm of fabric above the velcro. Depending on whether you are using bucram or not any excess fabric will be trimmed off later in STEP 8.
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